I've been ridind since forever, but I wasnt at a ggod riding school, i've recently changed schools and am making so much progress, but I still need so much work on my jump position.
Any good books that could help?
Or any suggestions, to help me from tipping forward on landing and hitting sand pretty much 8/10 times?
<3

Books aren't going to teach you stuff like that. I would do lots of work in the two point position, spend 5 - 10 minutes at a time balancing in two point position doing trot and canter, and trot/canter transitions. Make sure you're not balancing on your hands - if you have to ride with no contact until you learn to hold your own position without catching the horses mouth. Once you can keep your two point without collapsing or unbalancing in trot/canter positions start doing really small jumps, then really small grids.

Remember two point isn't just about leaning forward. You have to balance your weight through your thighs and legs, just like when you are doing ordinary riding. You should still be able to give clear leg aids just fine. Once you have your center of balance at different places you'll be able to find it much easier over jumps. Don't be in a rush to jump - make sure you have a secure position first.

Definitely practice your 2-point at all three gaits this will build your muscle memory. Also to maintain your balance while you're going over fences you should grab the mane, that's what it's there for. If your hands are on the mane then you have less chance of bumping the horse in the mouth and it will keep you more balanced until you build up your muscles.

I agree on the two point work. If you are tipping forward it is probably because you are allowing your lower leg to slip too far back. The lower leg is the counterbalance for your upper body. You MUST keep it forward at the girth to help counterbalance your upper body going forward. The further you go forward, the more forward it feels like your lower leg must be.

Go into two point. Keep your leg at the girth and slowly go into your two point. Make sure your seat moves back as you go forward so that it stays above the middle of the seat. If your leg stays where it should, you should feel a lot of STRETCH on the back of your leg. Then, take your hands OFF the neck. Can you still maintain your position without falling forward? Move your leg forward until you can.

To show how inportant keeping your heels down is to your security, sink way down into the stirrups. See how that feels. Then raise your heel and stand on your toes and see how that destabilizes your upper body. HEELS DOWN, Leg forward!

If you are tipping forward it is probably because you are allowing your lower leg to slip too far back. The lower leg is the counterbalance for your upper body. You MUST keep it forward at the girth to help counterbalance your upper body going forward. The further you go forward, the more forward it feels like your lower leg must be.

Actually, it is caused because of the rider pinching or gripping with their knee's. When they grip or pinch with their knees, the lower leg will naturally fling back, and the upper body will in turn, go the opposite direction.

~~~

Lilly, there are many great books out there that will help you mentally get what you want to do with your body. For one, I highly suggest you reading George Morris. He will really guide you and help you mentally see where your body should be, and what it should be doing.

I also suggest you start reading Practicle Horseman, where GM's critique columns are - you will obtain and learn a lot from reading what he has to say with indavidual pictures that are sent into him.

When you mentally see where your body should be, you can apply that when you are in the saddle.

GM also has fabulous DVD's/Video's as well.

~~~~~

As already stated, work a lot on 2 point. Finding your balance over your feet. You must be balanced over your feet.

The most important factor to remember is, your bodies weight must naturally be dispursed into your heels. Your heels must be allowed to be your anchors. Without them, you are not stabalized or solidified in your tack.

But in order for them to do their job, your body must allow the natural weight flow to occur. First, while at a stand, sitting in your tack, close your eyes and feel your weight. From your head, into your seat, and into your heels. Open your knees, you must learn to allow your knees to remain soft.

Secondly, you must find your proper leather length. If you find you are reaching for your toes, they are too long. Then you have to beable to place your foot in the iron correctly, or you wont beable to have a soft, flexable ankle - which in turn wont allow your heels to do their job.

All this - will be shown to you, through GM's teachings. I can go on and on and on about this, but I think this should be better left to GM himself :) Besides that, I don't have time - I have to get ready to head to work.

Thankyouu all so much!
I will definatley be working hard on my two point postition and making sure that im balanced over my feet!
Have a jump lesson next week so will definatley put all this into practise:)
Thankyouu <3

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